The X-Files (composition)

"The X-Files" is a 1996 instrumental recorded by American film and television composer Mark Snow. It is a remixed version of the original theme Snow composed for the science fiction television series The X-Files in 1993. Released in March 1996 in several countries, it achieved major success, particularly in France, where it reached number one on the singles chart. The composition has since been covered by many artists, including DJ Dado and Triple X; DJ Dado's version was a major hit in Europe while Triple X's version reached number two in Australia.

"The X-Files"
Single by Mark Snow
from the album The Truth and the Light: Music from the X-Files
B-side	"The X-Files" remixes
Released	March 24, 1996 (UK)
Genre	Downtempo dark ambient
Length	3:25
Label	Warner Music WEA International
Songwriter(s)	Mark Snow
Producer(s)	Mark Snow

Song information

"The X-Files" typically used more instrumental music than most hour-long dramas. According to the "Behind the Truth" segment on the Season 1 DVD, Mark Snow created the echo effect on his famous X-Files theme song by accident. Snow said that he had gone through several revisions, but Chris Carter felt that something was not quite right. Carter walked out of the room and Snow put his hand and forearm on his keyboard in frustration. Snow said, "this sound was in the keyboard. And that was it."

The whistle melody comes from an old sample from the Proteus line of synth products called "Whistling Joe" and the whistling of Snow's wife, Glynn.[1]

Chart performance

The single debuted at number two on the UK Singles Chart on March 30, 1996, and stayed there for three weeks.[2] In France, the single entered the chart at number 42 on April 6, 1996, and climbed quickly until reaching number two four weeks later. It remained for five weeks at this position, behind Robert Miles's hit "Children", then topped the chart for a sole week, becoming the second instrumental number-one hit on the French charts. It totaled 12 weeks in the top ten and 30 weeks in the top 50. The single re-charted in October 1998, but remained in the lower positions.

Track listings

CD maxi-single "The X-Files" (Original Version) – 3:25 "The X-Files" (Terrestrial Mix) – 4:20 "The X-Files" (P.M. Dawn Remix) – 3:59 German CD maxi-single "The X-Files" (Original Version) – 3:25 "The X-Files" (DJ Delicious Remix) – 5:19 "The X-Files" (Ravers Nature Remix) – 3:59 French remix CD single "The X-Files" (Secret Sessions Extended Mix) – 6:22 "The X-Files" (Secret Sessions Radio Edit) – 4:19 "The X-Files" (Map Mystery Mix) – 5:27 "The X-Files" (Terrestrial Mix) – 4:20

12-inch single, cassette single "The X-Files" (Original Version) – 3:25 "The X-Files" (Terrestrial Mix) – 4:20

Credits

• Composed by Mark Snow
• Terrestrial mix: remixed and produced Flexifinger
• P.M. Dawn remix: guitar by Cameron Greider, remixed by P.M. Dawn, synthesizers by Henry Hay and Maurice Luke, recorded and mixed by Michael Fossenkemper
• Ravers nature remix: produced and remixed by John Bogota, Pedro Ferrari and Roy Ströbel
• Secret Session remixes: produced by Special Agents for MAP Productions, engineered and mixed by RoBo
• Map Mystery mix: produced and mixed by Moorcroft and Prins for MAP Productions, engineered and programmed by TK for MAP Productions

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1996) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[3] 27 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[4] 19 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[5] 7 Denmark (IFPI)[6] 10 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[7] 4 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[8] 4 France (SNEP)[9] 1 Germany (Official German Charts)[10] 8 Hungary (Mahasz)[11] 3 Ireland (IRMA)[12] 3 Scotland (OCC)[13] 1 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[14] 5 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[15] 11 UK Singles (OCC)[2] 2 US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[16] 45

Year-end charts Chart (1996) Position Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[17] 76 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[18] 39 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[19] 20 France (SNEP)[20] 9 Germany (Official German Charts)[21] 62 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[22] 38 UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[23] 25 Certifications and sales Region Certification Certified units/sales France (SNEP)[24] Gold 250,000^* United Kingdom (BPI)[25] Silver 200,000^^ ^* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

DJ Dado version

"X-Files"
Single by DJ Dado
from the album The Album
B-side	"The X-Files" remixes
Released	March 19, 1996
Genre	Dream trance
Length	3:57
Label	ZYX Subway
Songwriter(s)	Mark Snow
Producer(s)	DJ Dado Robert Gallo Salsotto
DJ Dado singles chronology
"Face It" (1995) "X-Files" (1996) "Metropolis - The Legend of Babel" (1996)

At the same time Snow's original version was experiencing chart success, Italian producer DJ Dado covered the song with a dream trance version, which became a top-ten hit in several countries, including reaching number one in Denmark, though it failed to reach the top 10 in France and Germany.

In the US, this version was featured on the Pure Moods compilation album 1997 re-release.

Track listings

CD single

1. "X-Files" (DJ Dado paranormal activity mix) – 6:38
2. "X-Files" (Claudio Diva sub-dream activity mix) – 8:40

CD maxi

1. "X-Files" (radio edit) – 3:57
2. "X-Files" (DJ Dado paranormal activity mix) – 6:42
3. "X-Files" (Claudio Diva sub-dream paranormal activity mix) – 8:44

CD maxi

1. "X-Files" (radio edit) – 3:57
2. "X-Files" (DJ Dado paranormal activity mix) – 6:41
3. "X-Files" (Tom Wilson Dyme mix) – 6:38
4. "X-Files" (dV8 deviant mix) – 6:29
5. "X-Files" (freak bros area 51 mix) – 6:53
6. "X-Files" (Claudio Diva sub-dream paranormal activity mix) – 8:44

12-inch maxi

1. "X-Files" (DJ Dado paranormal activity mix) – 6:42
2. "X-Files" (Claudio Diva sub-dream paranormal activity mix) – 8:44

CD maxi – remixes

1. "X-Files" (2 Cowboys remix) – 5:07
2. "X-Files" (Reygroove remix) – 5:02
3. "X-Files" (Valez & L. Antolini remix) – 6:25
4. "X-Files" (Alex Voghi remix) – 6:25
5. "X-Files" (Miki B. remix – flute experience part I) – 8:38
6. "X-Files" (Moroldo & Mensi mix) – 4:35
7. "X-Files" (Hornbostel & M. Marvin remix) – 5:18
8. "X-Files" (Fabio Locati remix) – 6:18

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1996) Peak position Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[26] 4 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[27] 5 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[28] 7 Denmark (IFPI)[29] 1 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[30] 6 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[31] 3 France (SNEP)[32] 20 Germany (Official German Charts)[33] 19 Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[34] 5 Ireland (IRMA)[35] 5 Italy (Musica e dischi)[36] 6 Scotland (OCC)[13] 7 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[37] 9 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[38] 2 UK Singles (OCC)[39] 8

Year-end charts Chart (1996) Position Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[40] 14 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[17] 42 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[18] 55 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[19] 34 France (SNEP)[20] 84 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[22] 94 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[41] 16

Triple X version

The song was also covered by Triple X. This cover was less successful than the original version or DJ Dado's cover, but it did reach number two in Australia and was certified Gold by the Australian Recording Industry Association.

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1996) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[42] 2 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[43] 31 France (SNEP)[44] 34 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[45] 39 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[46] 24

Year-end charts Chart (1996) Position Australia (ARIA)[47] 11

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[47]	Gold	35,000^^
^^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

The X-Club version

"The X-Tended File"
Single by The X-Club
A-side	"The X-Tended File 7-inch Mix"
B-side	"The X-Tended File 12-inch Mix"
Released	April 22, 1996 (Australia)[48]
Genre	Eurodance
Length	3:55
Label	Pro DJ International
Songwriter(s)	Mark Snow
Producer(s)	Clock

A version by The X-Club was released in Australasia in 1996.

Charts

Chart (1996)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)[49]	93

The X-Files movie single and Mike Oldfield version

"The X-Files Theme"
Single by various artists
from the album The X-Files: The Album
A-side	"Tubular X"
B-side	"The X-Files Theme" "The Source of Secrets"
Released	June 8, 1998 (Japan)
Genre	Pop
Length	3:53
Label	Twentieth-Century Fox
Songwriter(s)	Mark Snow Mike Oldfield
Producer(s)	Mike Oldfield and others
Mike Oldfield singles chronology
"Women of Ireland" (1997) "The X-Files Theme" (1998) "Man in the Rain" (1998)

"The X-Files Theme" was released as a Japan only EP in 1998[50] from the soundtrack album The X-Files: The Album for The X-Files movie.

The maxi-CD includes four remixes of Mark Snow's theme to the television series, The X-Files. Notably "Tubular X" is part Snow's theme and consists of parts of Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells. Another track from Oldfield also appears, "The Source of Secrets", the opening piece from his Tubular Bells III album, which also based upon the same theme from the original Tubular Bells.

Track listing

1. "Tubular X" – Mike Oldfield – 3:53
2. "The X-Files Theme" – The Dust Brothers – 3:27
3. "The X-Files Theme" – Satoshi Tomiie Radio Edit – 4:17
4. "The X-Files Theme" – R.H. Factor Pop Radio Edit – 3:37
5. "The Source of Secrets" – Mike Oldfield – 5:33

References

1. Greiving, Tim (January 22, 2016). "As 'X-Files' Returns, Meet The Man Behind The Theme Song". All Things Considered. NPR. Retrieved July 9, 2020.
2. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 19, 2019.
3. "Australian-charts.com – Mark Snow – The X-Files". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
4. "Ultratop.be – Mark Snow – The X-Files" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
5. "Ultratop.be – Mark Snow – The X-Files" (in French). Ultratop 50.
6. "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 13 no. 19. May 11, 1996. p. 24. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
7. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 13 no. 23. June 8, 1996. p. 16. Retrieved February 4, 2020.
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13. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
14. "Swedishcharts.com – Mark Snow – The X-Files". Singles Top 100.
15. "Swisscharts.com – Mark Snow – The X-Files". Swiss Singles Chart.
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21. "Top 100 Single–Jahrescharts 1996" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved August 7, 2015.
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23. "Top 100 Singles 1996". Music Week. January 18, 1997. p. 25.
24. "French single certifications – Mark Snow – Main Theme X. Files" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved November 7, 2020.
25. "British single certifications – Mark Snow – X-Files Theme". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved November 7, 2020.
26. "Austriancharts.at – DJ Dado – X-Files" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
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29. "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 13 no. 18. May 4, 1996. p. 30. Retrieved November 7, 2020.
30. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 13 no. 19. May 11, 1996. p. 22. Retrieved February 4, 2020.
31. "DJ Dado: X-Files" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland.
32. "Lescharts.com – DJ Dado – X-Files" (in French). Les classement single.
33. "Offiziellecharts.de – DJ Dado – X-Files". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
34. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (4.5. – 10.5. '96)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). May 4, 1996. p. 26. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
35. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – The X Files". Irish Singles Chart.
36. "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 13 no. 16. April 20, 1996. p. 20. Retrieved November 26, 2019.
37. "Swedishcharts.com – DJ Dado – X-Files". Singles Top 100.
38. "Swisscharts.com – DJ Dado – X-Files". Swiss Singles Chart.
39. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 19, 2019.
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41. "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1996" (in German). Retrieved June 19, 2019.
42. "Australian-charts.com – Triple X – X-Files' Theme (Version Dance)". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
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48. "New Releases – Product Available from : 22/4/96 (from The ARIA Report Issue No. 322)". ARIA. Retrieved December 11, 2017 – via Imgur.
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